Seminary
Doctrinal Mastery Practice 3: Memorizing Key Phrases and Applying Principles of Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge

“Doctrinal Mastery Practice 3: Memorizing Key Phrases and Applying Principles of Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge,” Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual (2026)

“Doctrinal Mastery Practice 3: Memorizing Key Phrases and Applying Principles of Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge,” Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual

Exodus 7–13: Lesson 44

Doctrinal Mastery Practice 3

Memorizing Key Phrases and Applying Principles of Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge

Young man (seminary student) in gray sweater, holding and reading scriptures at desk in seminary class. (horiz)

Doctrinal mastery can help students build the foundation for their lives upon Jesus Christ and His gospel. This lesson can help students memorize the key scripture phrases in doctrinal mastery passages and apply the divine principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge.

Student preparation: Invite students to select one or two doctrinal mastery passages from the Old Testament and to memorize the reference and key scripture phrase. If they would like, they could also memorize the entire passage. Invite them to ponder how memorizing key phrases or passages could help them in their lives.

Possible Learning Activities

Doctrinal mastery review: Memorize

The first part of this lesson will compare memorizing a scripture to gaining a new friend. Think of an activity to prepare students for this comparison. For example, if you have a large class where students might not know each other well, you could invite students to name as many people in the class as possible. They can do this individually or in small groups. Invite students to ponder who they have come to know well.

  • What are some reasons it is good to get to know people in this class?

  • What are some benefits from having friends?

Read the following statement by Elder Richard G. Scott (1928–2015) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:

Final official portrait of Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, 2004. Passed away 22 September 2015.

“Great power can come from memorizing scriptures. To memorize a scripture is to forge a new friendship.” (“The Power of Scripture,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2011, 6)

  • How do you think a memorized scripture phrase or passage could be like a friend?

As students share, you might want to write their answers on the board. Invite students to read more from Elder Scott in the following statement, looking for additional answers. You might also point out that the words of scripture are from or inspired by the Lord. In many ways, the scriptures are like having Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ as guiding friends.

Elder Scott continued:

It is like discovering a new individual who can help in time of need, give inspiration and comfort, and be a source of motivation for needed change. (Richard G. Scott, “The Power of Scripture,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2011, 6)

  • When has a memorized scripture or phrase been like a friend to you in any of these ways?

  • What are some things you do or could do that might help you memorize key scripture phrases or passages?

Answers might include repeating the phrases or passages, writing them down, or using flashcards or the papers that students created in Lesson 15: “Doctrinal Mastery Practice 1.”

Consider displaying or providing each student with the doctrinal mastery passages they have studied so far. A list of the Old Testament doctrinal mastery references and key scripture phrases can be found in the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document (2023).

Invite students to take several minutes on the following activity:

Follow Elder Scott’s counsel to “forge … new friendship[s]” by memorizing the references and key phrases for several doctrinal mastery scriptures. You could also memorize an entire passage.

Select one of the phrases or passages you memorized, and answer the following question:

  • How might this phrase or passage be like a friend to you? (How could it help in a time of need, give inspiration or comfort, or be a source for needed change?)

Invite multiple students to share. Consider sharing your own thoughts as well. Look for ways to encourage students to continue to memorize scriptures.

Learn and apply principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge

The remainder of the lesson focuses on helping students apply principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge to relevant situations. Before continuing, it may be useful to invite students to review these principles. Students’ ability to readily recall and apply these principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge will increase through repeated review and practice. Suggested review activities can be found in the section of the appendix titled “Doctrinal Mastery Review Activities.” Descriptions of the principles are found in paragraphs 5–12 of the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document (2023).

Ponder the needs of your students and seek the Lord’s help to select one of the following scenarios or to adapt or create one to better meet the needs of your students. Or read two or three of the scenarios aloud and invite the class to select one they feel would be most useful to focus on.

  • “I hear other youth talk about sharing immodest, inappropriate, or even nude pictures of themselves or others on their phones. I can tell they don’t think it’s a big deal. It’s probably just a normal part of relationships, or they’re just messing around.”

  • “It seems like it’s normal to see and hear sexual things. There are sexual references in jokes, scenes in movies, online videos, and so on. What Church leaders think is appropriate is different from what many other people say is normal. I think that times are different now and it’s not as big of a deal as it used to be.”

  • “I’ve had lessons before about the law of chastity, but it seems like a lot of teenagers where I live are sexually active or at least don’t plan on waiting until marriage. I think I understand why Church leaders tell us to be sexually pure, and there is a lot of good about it, but I sometimes wonder if it’s worth it.”

    Invite students to imagine that the person speaking in the scenario is here with them. Explain that this is someone with a sincere heart. Remind students that we should strive to treat all people with the same love and respect as Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ do.

  • What assumptions about the law of chastity did you notice in this scenario?

    Explain that the class is going to prepare to help this person. As students discuss the following question, reassure them that there are no wrong answers.

  • If you were trying to help this person, what principle of acquiring spiritual knowledge would you focus on first? Why?

Prepare a way to use this principle of acquiring spiritual knowledge to help this person. This could include:

  • A question you might ask this person.

  • Scriptures, including doctrinal mastery passages, or statements from Church leaders that might help.

  • Your own thoughts, feelings, or testimony.

If useful, display the following questions to help students. Alternatively, students could prepare on their own one way to use one principle of acquiring spiritual knowledge. Then they could use the following questions to prepare a way to use an additional principle.

Examine Concepts and Questions with an Eternal Perspective

Seek Further Understanding through Divinely Appointed Sources

Act in Faith

  • In this situation, what do you think it would look like to act with faith in the Savior Jesus Christ?

  • If you were in a similar situation, what could you do to invite the Savior’s help and power into your life?

After students have sufficient time to prepare, ask them to share. Consider asking follow-up questions like “Would anyone else like to add to what was shared?” “How do you think the person we are trying to help might react to what’s being shared?” “How could we help this person feel more of the Lord’s love and feel more likely to seek His help?” and “How might a different principle of acquiring spiritual knowledge help?”

In your study journal, write what you learned from this experience that you want to remember. This could include how the process of using the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge could help you with any questions or concerns you have.